Polentabeefstew Recipes

MOM'S PORTUGUESE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Dust the beef with the flour. Place the beef, garlic, bay leaves, and pepper in the stockpot; cook until the beef is brown; season with salt and cook until beef is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, green pepper, carrot, and paprika; cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato, wine, water, and parsley. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes.
• Mix in the red potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans; continue to cook until potatoes are easily pierced through with a fork, about 45 minutes.

TUSCAN BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• For the stew: In heavy, large saucepan over moderately-high heat, heat 3 tablespoons oil until hot, but not smoking. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and saute, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the beef and saute, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme, stir well, and bring to boil.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then lower heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• For the polenta: While the beef is simmering, make the polenta. Pour the olive oil into a large serving bowl and swirl to coat. Set aside.
• In heavy, large pot over moderately-high heat, bring stock to a boil. Lower the heat to moderate and gradually whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, about 5 minutes. Transfer the polenta to an oil-coated serving bowl and keep warm. Let the polenta sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it can set up.
• When the beef is tender, use tongs to remove the tomato skins, if desired and the thyme sprigs.
• Turn the polenta out of the bowl, slice, and serve alongside the stew.

TUSCAN BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Make stew
• In heavy, large saucepan over moderately high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add beef and sauté, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme, stir well, and bring to boil. Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then lower heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, until beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• While beef is simmering, make polenta
• Pour olive oil into large serving bowl and swirl to coat. Set aside.
• In heavy, large pot over moderately high heat, bring stock to boil. Lower heat to moderate and slowly add polenta, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, about 10 minutes. Transfer to oil-coated serving bowl and keep warm.
• Serve
• When beef is tender, use tongs to remove tomato skins (if desired) and thyme sprigs. Transfer stew to large serving bowl. Serve polenta alongside.

POLENTA MEAT STEW

Steps:

• Trim fat from meat and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• In a plastic bag combine flour, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Add meat pieces a few at a time, shaking to coat. Place meat in a 3 1/2-4 quart slow cooker. Add carrots, onions, garlic and rosemary. Stir in water, broth and wine.
• Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high.
• Stir in fresh rosemary, parsley and tomato paste. Serve with a spoonful of polenta in each bowl.
• Just prior to serving prepare polenta by bringing milk to simmer. In a bowl combine, cornmeal, water and salt. Slowly add to the warm milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boiling. Reduce heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally. (I sometimes add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and a tablespoon of butter at this point.).

PAULINE WERNER'S BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Place the meat in a bowl, sprinkle with flour, and toss to coat. Transfer meat to pot, season with salt and pepper, and brown meat on all sides.
• Fill the pot with enough water to cover the meat, and mix in onion, bay leaf, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for an hour or until the meat is tender.
• Stir in the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Continue cooking over low heat for 45 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaf before serving.

PORK STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Chop whole onion.
• Heat large nonstick pan until it is very hot; reduce heat to medium-high, and add oil. Saute onion in the oil until it begins to soften.
• Meanwhile, mince garlic, and add to onion as it cooks.
• Slice carrots in food processor, and add to onion as it cooks. Wash, dry and slice mushrooms in food processor, and add to vegetables.
• Wash, dry and cut tenderloin into bite-size chunks. When vegetables have softened, push to the side, and brown meat quickly all over.
• Strip rosemary branches of leaves to make 1 tablespoon; bring wine, stock and rosemary to boil in covered pot for polenta.
• Mix the browned meat in with the vegetables, and continue cooking over low heat.
• Slowly stir polenta into boiling stock to prevent lumping; reduce heat to medium-high, and continue stirring polenta until it thickens.
• Grate cheese, if using, and stir into polenta.
• Season pork mixture with salt and pepper, and serve over polenta.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH STEWED BEEF

Steps:

• Using small sharp knife, cut 1-inch-deep slits all over beef. Fill each slit with pancetta strip. Place beef in large bowl; pour wine over. Cover; chill overnight.
• Drain wine from beef, reserving wine. Pat beef dry with paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over high heat. Add beef and cook until brown on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Add reserved wine, onion and next 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until beef is very tender, turning beef occasionally, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
• Using tongs, transfer beef to platter. Tent beef with foil to keep warm. Discard bay leaves from wine mixture in pot. Working in batches, coarsely purée wine mixture in blender. Return to pot and bring to a simmer. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon polenta into large bowl. Cut beef into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spoon sauce over beef.
• *Available in the spice section of most supermarket nationwide.
• **Available at Italian markets, specialty food stores and many supermarkets.